 Sloppy. A character, New Canton  Mississippii River Road near Gilead |
 Wasps!  Mississippii River, Grafton |
27/7/2011 Hannibal to Grafton
147km, 8hrs, 18.45av Total 3463km, ridiculously hot,
True to word I had arose early and was on the road by 0700hrs. The drink bottles were stocked with ice and water.
Though a southerly was forecast, its impact on me was minimal up to about 1000hrs.
Last night I did a full stock take on my gear and asembled another package of items to mail home, things like binoculars, business cards and a tree book. I posted these at New Canton.This was one of about five towns on the way to Grafton that had populations of less than 250.
The guy running the post office, judging by his hands,(those of a farmer) spent bugger all time there, this was confirmed by his knowledge of the card machine. After a few goes it was sorted.
I then want two doors down to have a coffee at the towns only diner, Signifying its presence was a piece of cardboard hanging above the door, Taking a photo the owner charged out and said “here get a photo of this as he posed under the sign with his chefs hat in place. He was a character, heading in I grabbed a sprite and we started yakking. This Pike county area, especially the district of El Dara here in IL produces the biggest whitetail bucks. Hunters come from all over to unload a bit of lead.
They are a major hazard to vehicles. While on the topic ,it is not unusual to see at least 50 dead racoons on the road each day.
A woman was seated near me, she was the owner of a semi parked outside, she too was having a drink stop. Trucking was becoming difficult here, she had just done 3500m for the week hauling goods from Nth Carolina. She went on to say that she only owed $200 dollars awhile ago before becoming debt free, but was stricken with an heart problem and needed an op. Her insurance paid half, she had to find the rest, $125,000. She reckons she will never be debt free. Life can be such a treadmill.
Sloppy the owner of the Lamplight Cafe told me to check out The Copperhead bar further on. Doing this took care of another half hour talking with the owner. She had only just opened for the day and I was the catalyst for a break.
The heat was now impacting on proceedings. As yet I hadn’t eaten, stopping at Atlas solved that problem. A farmer joined me at the table.
Moving on with recharged water bottles, I stopped at Mozier at a diner amongst corn.
As soon as I entered the place the owner placed a glass of water in my hand. Her and I began an enjoyable conversation, The guy on the table next door had just ordered a burger and chips, they looked great, so I paced an order. Outside the window were some bird feeders with dozens of brilliant tiny humming birds hovering while inserting their beaks in tiny holes to access a sugar and water solution. I commented to people they look like wasps, One woman not hearing me properly,said did you think they were wasps, I laughed and said if they were wasps you wouldn’t catch me around here.
I stayed here sometime. Katherine the owner shouted me lunch, though I wouldn’t let her pay for the bottled drinks. Another interesting woman was telling me her son had a masters in English Linguistics and had spent time in Oman, she trianed horses nearby. People in this part of IL are as friendly and as generous as those in Southern MN. Mind you having said that everyone encountered on this trip has been uncoditionally friendly.”Thanks for an enjoyable stop Katherine”, I enjoyed your company. If travelling on IL96 stopping here is a must.
From here the road became undulating and riverside with dwellings on poles alongside and in some cases extending into the river.
There was no shoulder ,though any vehicles encountered were travelling at a liesurely pace being really considerate towards my prescence, they probably felt sorry for me.
As this was a secondary road some inclines though short, were steep. Music was beginning to play a significant role in my forward movement, the heat and humidity were spinning me out. At the foot of one hill seeing the shade of a tree I stopped unable to continue.I needed to regroup, I ate a hot peach and drank the last of the tepid water. Walking up here was not an option.
A couple of cars came by, slowed down, had a good look and continued, Presently a pickup approached down the hill and pulled over. The woman was an environmental police person, like our fisheries guys, I liked her title which was embroidered on her uniform which a pistol complimented.
I must have looked like a reincarnated racoon who was trying to work out what end of the bike went up the hill first. I was trashed, she gave me 3 bottles of frozen water, we chatted and she offered to take me to the next town in her truck. It was a hassle unpacking the bike so I declined, not to mention in the time I had been stopped the bod and mind had regrouped. Thanking her profoundly we both moved on.
The next stop for water was at a farm followed by a half hour break at the Brussels general store. I had 8 miles to the Brussels ferry that crosses the Missouri river.
A fellow cyclist out for a training session joined me on the ferry. On reaching the opposite bank we took this walking track up through the bush which linked with a bike trail to Grafton. Such a nice way to finish the days ride.
Signs of the recent river levels were evident both visually and on the nose, “Mississippi mud” had been deposited everywhere. Recently having been moved it still had an odour.
Grafton is a popular tourist destination, it is at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and is a short drive from St Louis.
I booked into the Ruebel motel, a period building circa 1879, Timber fittings throughout with a great bar. The owner Mo an Iranian with a personality perfectly suited to the hospitality industry welcomed me.
At $89/night and a tent in my possession it was costly. Having had such a big day I was not inclined to be putting my tent up. A bit of luxury was due.
Unloading the bike and leaving it in the banquet room. I headed to the bar, the night was a big as the day, finally hitting the nest at 0200hrs.
One the bar girls, such a lovely young girl, Bens age, had studied english literature at uni. Her special area of study was Margaret Hepburn, she knows more about her than anyone in the country and is recognized as so. She is tossing up whether or not to do her thesis on her.
She had been to the UK and loved it. Such an interesting person.
147km, 8hrs, 18.45av Total 3463km, ridiculously hot,
True to word I had arose early and was on the road by 0700hrs. The drink bottles were stocked with ice and water.
Though a southerly was forecast, its impact on me was minimal up to about 1000hrs.
Last night I did a full stock take on my gear and asembled another package of items to mail home, things like binoculars, business cards and a tree book. I posted these at New Canton.This was one of about five towns on the way to Grafton that had populations of less than 250.
The guy running the post office, judging by his hands,(those of a farmer) spent bugger all time there, this was confirmed by his knowledge of the card machine. After a few goes it was sorted.
I then want two doors down to have a coffee at the towns only diner, Signifying its presence was a piece of cardboard hanging above the door, Taking a photo the owner charged out and said “here get a photo of this as he posed under the sign with his chefs hat in place. He was a character, heading in I grabbed a sprite and we started yakking. This Pike county area, especially the district of El Dara here in IL produces the biggest whitetail bucks. Hunters come from all over to unload a bit of lead.
They are a major hazard to vehicles. While on the topic ,it is not unusual to see at least 50 dead racoons on the road each day.
A woman was seated near me, she was the owner of a semi parked outside, she too was having a drink stop. Trucking was becoming difficult here, she had just done 3500m for the week hauling goods from Nth Carolina. She went on to say that she only owed $200 dollars awhile ago before becoming debt free, but was stricken with an heart problem and needed an op. Her insurance paid half, she had to find the rest, $125,000. She reckons she will never be debt free. Life can be such a treadmill.
Sloppy the owner of the Lamplight Cafe told me to check out The Copperhead bar further on. Doing this took care of another half hour talking with the owner. She had only just opened for the day and I was the catalyst for a break.
The heat was now impacting on proceedings. As yet I hadn’t eaten, stopping at Atlas solved that problem. A farmer joined me at the table.
Moving on with recharged water bottles, I stopped at Mozier at a diner amongst corn.
As soon as I entered the place the owner placed a glass of water in my hand. Her and I began an enjoyable conversation, The guy on the table next door had just ordered a burger and chips, they looked great, so I paced an order. Outside the window were some bird feeders with dozens of brilliant tiny humming birds hovering while inserting their beaks in tiny holes to access a sugar and water solution. I commented to people they look like wasps, One woman not hearing me properly,said did you think they were wasps, I laughed and said if they were wasps you wouldn’t catch me around here.
I stayed here sometime. Katherine the owner shouted me lunch, though I wouldn’t let her pay for the bottled drinks. Another interesting woman was telling me her son had a masters in English Linguistics and had spent time in Oman, she trianed horses nearby. People in this part of IL are as friendly and as generous as those in Southern MN. Mind you having said that everyone encountered on this trip has been uncoditionally friendly.”Thanks for an enjoyable stop Katherine”, I enjoyed your company. If travelling on IL96 stopping here is a must.
From here the road became undulating and riverside with dwellings on poles alongside and in some cases extending into the river.
There was no shoulder ,though any vehicles encountered were travelling at a liesurely pace being really considerate towards my prescence, they probably felt sorry for me.
As this was a secondary road some inclines though short, were steep. Music was beginning to play a significant role in my forward movement, the heat and humidity were spinning me out. At the foot of one hill seeing the shade of a tree I stopped unable to continue.I needed to regroup, I ate a hot peach and drank the last of the tepid water. Walking up here was not an option.
A couple of cars came by, slowed down, had a good look and continued, Presently a pickup approached down the hill and pulled over. The woman was an environmental police person, like our fisheries guys, I liked her title which was embroidered on her uniform which a pistol complimented.
I must have looked like a reincarnated racoon who was trying to work out what end of the bike went up the hill first. I was trashed, she gave me 3 bottles of frozen water, we chatted and she offered to take me to the next town in her truck. It was a hassle unpacking the bike so I declined, not to mention in the time I had been stopped the bod and mind had regrouped. Thanking her profoundly we both moved on.
The next stop for water was at a farm followed by a half hour break at the Brussels general store. I had 8 miles to the Brussels ferry that crosses the Missouri river.
A fellow cyclist out for a training session joined me on the ferry. On reaching the opposite bank we took this walking track up through the bush which linked with a bike trail to Grafton. Such a nice way to finish the days ride.
Signs of the recent river levels were evident both visually and on the nose, “Mississippi mud” had been deposited everywhere. Recently having been moved it still had an odour.
Grafton is a popular tourist destination, it is at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and is a short drive from St Louis.
I booked into the Ruebel motel, a period building circa 1879, Timber fittings throughout with a great bar. The owner Mo an Iranian with a personality perfectly suited to the hospitality industry welcomed me.
At $89/night and a tent in my possession it was costly. Having had such a big day I was not inclined to be putting my tent up. A bit of luxury was due.
Unloading the bike and leaving it in the banquet room. I headed to the bar, the night was a big as the day, finally hitting the nest at 0200hrs.
One the bar girls, such a lovely young girl, Bens age, had studied english literature at uni. Her special area of study was Margaret Hepburn, she knows more about her than anyone in the country and is recognized as so. She is tossing up whether or not to do her thesis on her.
She had been to the UK and loved it. Such an interesting person.
